Sword of the Stranger

In the Sengoku period of Japan, a young orphan named Kotarou and his dog Tobimaru steal from unsuspecting villagers in order to make ends meet. However, Kotarou is forced to remain on the run when he finds himself being hunted down by assassins sent by China's Ming Dynasty for mysterious reasons not involving his petty crimes.Fortunately, the duo run into Nanashi, a ronin who has taken refuge in a small temple, when Kotarou is attacked and Tobimaru poisoned. Although the samurai saves the helpless pair from their pursuers, he feels that there is no need to help them further; but when offered a gem in exchange for his services as a bodyguard, he reluctantly accepts Kotarou's offer of employment—just until Tobimaru is healed and the two reach their destination. As the three set out on a perilous journey, it soon becomes evident that their path is riddled with danger, as the Ming Dynasty has now sent a terrifying swordsman after them to capture Kotarou and fulfill a certain prophecy. Tittle : Sword of the Stranger Kanji : ストレンヂア 無皇刃譚 Directed by : Masahiro Andō Written by : Fumihiko Takayama Produced by : Masahiko Minami Starring : Tomoya Nagase, Yuri Chinen Cinematography : Yohei Miyahara Edited by : Hiroaki Itabe Music by : Naoki Satō Production company : Bones Distributed by : Shochiku Release date : September 29, 2007 Running time : 102 minutes Country : Japan Languages : Japanese, Mandarin